Raycom Media's WOIO/19 has sued the Cleveland Browns for trying to get out of the team's contract with the local CBS affiliate.The Cleveland Plain Dealer's news blog reports that WOIO says it "did nothing to warrant" the termination of a three-year, $4 million contract which is entering its second year. The station has also asked a judge to block the Browns from terminating the contract, and asks for unspecified damages.
For the team's part, a Browns official wrote in his July 13th letter to the TV station that the contract was being terminated because of "repeated instances where WOIO news staff stepped well outside any legitimate boundary of responsible journalism", and that Channel 19 aired "sensationalized, overtly negative reporting on the organization and its players."
Browns VP Mike Keenan says "19 Action News"' airing of a 911 call involving family members of owner Randy Lerner "irreparably ruptured" the team's relationship with WOIO.
The Plain Dealer reports that the contract does have an escape clause allowing it to be terminated "for cause", such as:
"...conduct by one party, its employees or representatives which substantially alters the aggrieved party's ability to benefit from this agreement."
It's now up to Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Timothy McMonagle to decide if that means the contract can be voided...
7 comments:
It seems that none at Raycom is watching WOIO let alone having actual control. I mean eveybody knows that ch 19 has treated the browns like trash and if you need proof go to theie website which has the stories to prove it. You would think that someone at the browns would be going over the local managment's head and contacting Raycom and letting them know how they are being treated in hopes there would be changes but I quess Raycom is actually be operated out of the offices of WOIO/WUAB Tv in Cleveland Ohio.
A humble prediction: The court will eventually side with the Browns if the Browns stand firm. It seems reasonable to say they have just cause to terminate according to the way the contract was written. Even if the Browns decide to stick with 19 until the contract expires, the relationship is certainly tarnished by Action News attitudes toward the Browns.
I can give you one sure guarantee: If Al Lerner were still alive, he'd ante up his last dime fighting to get his product off WOIO/WUAB. Al was a man of integrity, at least when it came to his family's honor, and for the PD and CBS-19 to contend they were showing news "integrity" is one of the most insulting notions I've heard of. Go, Randy, Go.
(OMW: you summed it up great)
Applegate--hey, there's a nice new term to sum up this mess, like Watergate--should take a lesson from arrogant gun-toting thug Maurice Clarett: You don't mess with the NFL and its legal team.
APPLEGATE. A losing proposition, buddy.
Browns should be left out of contract with no penalty.
WOIO has overstepped it's boundries more than once.
I was channel surfing, and according to 19 action news at 10,they plan on seeking a tempory injunction order tommorw. They also defended the piece and said they would have more at 11PM. Among the things that were said the newsroom was seperate and they had a right to air the 9-11 call and that they had the right because it was a 1st admendment right they had.
Geeez, they just don't "get it," do they? Of course, they have the RIGHT to air the call; but it was not prudent or responsible to do so, in light of the sensitive nature and their personal relationship with a distant relative of the young victim. Their actions violate business ETHICS, not necessarily the Constitution; therefore, the Browns should not be morally-bound to continue a business relationship with an amoral group.
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